Northern California's Hot Caviar
In Northern California, they've got a sturgeon poaching problem. The LA Times takes a look at "Operation Beluga" which is a sting operation designed to catch Russian and Ukranian immigrants involved in a caviar poaching ring. The price of Caspian sea caviar has led to domestic sturgeon farms and poaching of native California sturgeon for roe that will bring in nearly as much money as the good stuff from overseas. The white sturgeon isn't endangered but game agents are concerned that they could be headed that way. California has banned the commerical catch and sale of white sturgeon and restricted sport fishing. In order to combat poaching, wildlife officials are seeking a way to identify wild fish and roe versus those raised in fish farms. Note to self: no more buying caviar out of the back of vans.
